The Granny Midwives Oral History Project
In January, 2021 the Scott Ford Houses Inc. received a $50,000 grant from W. K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) to document stories of Mississippi family members’ recollections of “granny” midwives in their family or community within the following regions: Jackson Prairie, Delta, Black Belt and Loess Hills. These Mississippians were delivered by “granny” midwives, or have Mississippi families who have had experiences with “granny” midwives. With these funds, interviews (meant for research and public viewing) were videotaped, transcribed, audio edited, indexed and summarized. Scott Ford Houses Inc. is interested (among story contributions) in “granny” midwives’ roles in birth deliveries and “granny” midwives’ influential interactions with children.
This project reflects Scott Ford Houses Inc. values by providing a statewide lens to understand Mississippi “granny” midwives. From these interviews, Mississippi gains a greater shared knowledge about its past while identifying regional pride and heightened sensitivity of “granny” midwives’ contributions to the birthing process. Further, Scott Ford Houses Inc. is uniquely positioned to impact systemic racism in archival, museum and historic built environments because of previous collaborations with the JSU MW Center and the Smith Robertson museum where their holdings will be increased and available for all racial and ethnic groups, especially the closing exhibit at Smith Robertson Cultural Museum Complex. Hence, such funding adheres to the theme, “Reclaiming our Legacy and Shifting the Narrative of Mississippi Granny Midwives: A Storytelling Project.”
About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.
The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special attention is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.